Vacuum vapor-heating system.



H. J. HUNT VACUUM VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. 19w.

1.557535%, Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. J. HUNT.

VACUUM VAPOR HEATING SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED APR. I8. 19!].

l ,257, 354 Patented Feb. 26, 1918,

2 SHEET8-SHEEI 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQEQ HENRY J. HUNT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,ASSIGNOR TO SOL I. SHANE, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

VACUUM VAPOR-HEATIN G SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

Application filed April 18, 1917. Serial No. 163,033.

To aZZ whom 2'27 may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J HUNT, citizen of the United States, residingat Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum Vapor-Heating Systems; andI do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steam heating apparatus, andmore particularly to means for maintaining a relatively constant anduniform vacuum in a steam heating system to the end that the freecirculation of steam through the radiators is promoted.

The invention relates more particularly to what may be termed a vacuumtrap for heating systems which is adapted to be used in newinstallations, and also in old installations for converting the samefrom the high pressure to the low pressure or vapor type, and which mayalso be utilized advantageously in existing low pressure or vaporsystems.

The invention has for its particular object to provide simple, cheap andefiicient means for maintaining a vacuum on the return side of a steamheating system, and includes a novel and efiicient trap adapted to beinterposed in the return line of a steam heating system for maintainingthe aforesaid vacuum therein.

Other objects of the invention will be understood from the followingspecification.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter fully described and particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a suitable embodiment of theinvention:

Figure 1- is a general diagrammatic view of a steam heating systemequipped with a trap constructed in accordance with my inventionconnected with the radiators and generator in accordance with theinvention; the trap being shown on an enlarged scale in comparison tothe remaining parts of the system.

Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a trap forsteam heating systems constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2-

Fig. l is a fragmentary detail vertical longitudinal section on the line44 of Fig. 2. V

In the said drawings, 1 indicates a steam generator or boiler of anysuitable type, the furnace 2 of which is connected by means of the fluewith the stack 3. From the boilerthe steam supply pipe 4 rises, thelatter connecting with a feed pipe 5 extending from the upper end of thepipe 4 at a slight downward pitch. The said feed pipe 5 connects at itsother end with the return pipe 6 lead ing to the bottom of the generatorfor returning water of condensation collecting in the pipe 5 to thegenerator. A second feed pipe 7, corresponding to the pipe 5, may extendin the opposite direction from the latter and terminates in a secondreturn pipe 8, in the usual manner.

From the supply pipes 5 and 7 the steam passes through branch pipes 9into the radiators 10, of which any number may be installed in thebuilding on the various floors. Each of the radiators is equippedpreferably at the end opposite from the point of admission of steam andcontiguous to the highest point in the radiator with a thermostatic airvalve 11, of well-known construction, for automatically exhausting airfrom the radiators. From each of the air-valves the radiators areconnected with return pipes 12 leading to pipes 13 through which air isexhausted into the trap 14 and thence to the stack and atmosphere.Possibly some vapor, is delivered into the return pipes 13. A pluralityof said return pipes 13 may be provided, as shown, clepending upon theparticular needs of the installation, and such pipes may enter the trap14 at different points. Interposed in each return pipe 13 is a small mudor sediment trap 15 which is adapted to receive so much of the water ofcondensation as may find its way into the return pipes 12 flange 18extending diametrically thereof, and which becomes interposed in thepath of steam and air passed through the pipe 13 into the trap 14:, thepurpose of said flange 18 being to effect a downward deflection of thefluid so as to cause dirt, and the like, carried in suspension by theair and steam passing to the trap 14-, to be deposited in the trap 15.lVater contained in the latterabove the level of the lowermost points inthe pipe or pipes 13 will overflow into the trap 14. The latter consistspreferably of cylindrical housing provided in its lower wall with acentral opening by means of which it is connected with a return pi thepe 19 leading to the bottom of generator 1, said pipe 19 having acheckvalve 2O interposed therein for preventing water from the generatorflowing back into the trap under the influence of excessive pressure inthe generator. The upper end of the trap 14. is closed by means of thehead 21 having a central hollow projection 22 extending upwardlytherefrom. In the center of the latter there is a passage 23 terminatingat both ends in valve seats 24 and 25 respectivelv, said passageconstituting an air duct which is normally maintained closed by a verylight ball check-valve 26 seating by gravity on the valve-seat 25 Theupper end of the projection 22 contalns an annular seat for the loweredge or mouth of an inverted glass cup 27, the joint between which andsaid projection 25 is rendered fluid-tight in any suitable manner. It isobvious, of course, that the cup may be of other material besides glass.From the upper end portion of said projection 22 and laterally of thevalve-seat 25 there is a passage 28 which is connected by means of apipe 29 with the chimney or stack 3 which serves to maintain a slightdegree of vacuum in the cup 27.

Secured to the lower face of the head 21 is a guide me iber 30 for thestem 81 of avalve 32 which is adapted to seat on the valveseat 2%, butis normally maintained off said seat. T he said stem 31 is provided withan extension rod 33 on which a float 3a is reciprocably movable. Thefloat normally rests on a collar 85 at the lower end of the rod 33, butis adapted, in the event that water should collect in the trap it to asufficiently high level, to engage the shoulder 36 at the lower end ofthe stem 31, and upon further rise of the level of water in the trap14:, to raise the valve 32 to its seat to prevent the passage of waterthrough the air passage 23 and thence into the pipe 29. The trap 1a ispreferably equipped with the usual gage glass 37 through which the levelof water in the trap may be readily observed.

It will be observed, of course, that the trap 14: may be made of anysize suitable to the service which it is adapted to perform andproportioned more or less to the number of radiators and square feet ofradiation and heating surface contained in the heating plant.

The operation of the system will probably be readily understood from thefore o'ing description, but will be briefly reviewed for the sake ofclarity.

Assuming that there is a fire in the generator 1 and that steam is beinggenerated therein, such steam will pass through the pipes 4-, 5 and Tand through. the pipes 9 to the radiators 10. Aircontained in the latterwill. be exhausted, at least in part, through the thermostatic air valve11 to the atmosphere. The water of condensation collecting in theradiators 10 will return through the supply pipes 9 to the feed pipe 5and return pipe 6. Such air as may not be exhausted through the valves11, together with relative minute quantities of water of condensationwill pass through pipes 12 to 7 Steam may sometimes pass w th the a1:1nto said pipes the return pipe or pipes i3.

13, and all of such fluid will flow into the trap .14 except such of thewater of condensation as may collect within the sediment traps 15. Waterand air will now be contained in the trap 14; and the water will bedrained from the trap and check-valve 20 into the generator as soon asthe height of the watercolumn in said pipe 19 and trap 1 1 exceeds thatof the generator plus the steam pressure in the latter'; it beingpreferable to locate the trap at the highest available elevation abovethe generator 1 to promote proper drainage of the trap. The aircollecting in the trap 14- will obviously reduce the vacuum therein, andas soon as the degree of vacuum in the trap 14; is less than that in thepipe 29 such air will pass upwardly into the cup 27 pastthe valve 26,and will be exhausted through the pipe 29 to the stack. The vacuummaintained in the trap 14; will, of course, be communicated through thepipe or pipes 12 and 13 to the radiators, and will serve to promote theentrance and circulation of steam through the radiators in a well-knownmanner.

lVhile I have shown my invention in its preferred embodiment, and in thepreferable mode of installation thereof in a steam or vapor heatingsystem, it wil be obvious, of course, that the construction of the trapmay be changed and varied in details and the manner of its installationalso varied to best adapt it to perform its function without departingfrom the invention as defined in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A steam trap for heating systems including a sealed vessel having adischarge port for air and vapor, a valve-seat bordering said port, acheck-valve cooperating with said seat to normally maintain said portclosed against the admission of air or vapor, a second seat surroundingsaid valveseat, an inverted transparent cup removably mounted on saidsecond seat, there be- 7 ing an open space between said seats adapted tobe connected with means for maintaining a partial vacuum in said cup, asecond valve seat at said discharge port, a normally open valve adaptedto seat thereon, a float operatively associated with said valve forautomatically closing the same as water accumulates in said. vessel to apredetermined level, an inlet port for air, water and vapor to saidvessel below the discharge 1 port, and an outlet for water in the lowerend thereof.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

HENRY J. HUNT. Witnesses:

M. M. BOYLE, J. C. BROGKETT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner oi. Patents, Washington, D. G.

